ETHICS:HUMAN

RESEARCH(FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES)

A psychologists’ job is to do research to benefit the lives of other people. Psychologists must do whatever they can to ensure the safety of their subjects, whether they be humans or animals. Beneficence: Your work will benefit those you are studying or other people.

Non-maleficence: Your will do the least amount of harm possible to the people you are studying.

Remember: No harm, no foul.

PRINCIPLE A: BENEFICENCE AND NONMALEFICENCE

Psychologists are often trusted by those in their care. You must respect the rights of your subjects, and you must not abuse this trust that people have in you. Fidelity: You are faithful to your subjects, and you have their best interests at heart

Responsibility: You keep to the rules when doing experiments, and you make sure others do the same.

Remember: With great power comes great responsibility.

PRINCIPLE A: BENEFICENCE AND NONMALEFICENCE

Sometimes, psychologists need to trick their subjects to do an experiment. Psychologists always tell their subjects why this was done after the experiment is over. Psychologists must never lie about their results. Integrity: Stay true to your results and your subjects.

Remember: Mean what you say, say what you mean.

PRINCIPLE C: INTEGRITY

Everyone should benefit from a psychologist’s work. Make sure your subjects are treated equally, and make sure the benefits of your work are spread around to everyone.

Remember: Everyone gets a piece of the pie.

PRINCIPLE D: JUSTICE

You must respect your subject’s rights. Respect their right to privacy and free will. Depending on the nature of the experiment, you may have to get permission to include them in an experiment. You must always give subjects the right to drop out of an experiment, and some subjects must be treated with extra care due to their age, disabilities, or other reasons.

Translation: Treat others the way you wish to be treated.

PRINCIPLE E: RESPECT FOR PEOPLE’S RIGHTS AND DIGNITY

1. INFORMED CONSENT

Participants must be informed, in advance, about:

the general nature of the research, and

any potential risk. Participants must have the right to refuse participation or withdraw at any time.

2. RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED FROM HARM AND DISCOMFORT

Studies involving harm or discomfort may be conducted only under certain circumstances, and only with the informed consent of the participants.

3. RIGHT OF CONFIDENTIALITY

Individual data about research participants should never be discussed or released.

4. RIGHT TO DEBRIEFING

Participants have a right to receive a complete explanation of the research at the end of the study.

This is extremely important if the research involves deception.

Not that kind of debriefing!

WHAT’S UNETHICAL IN THIS CLIP?

Dr. Venkman’s “Psychic” Experiment

ETHICS:ANIMAL

RESEARCH

REASONS FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH

Interest in animal behavior as a topic of study

Data from animal studies may apply to humans.

Easier to do some type of studies (genetics) due to the shorter life span of animals

REASONS FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH

Easier to exercise more control over experiments with

Procedures that are not ethical to perform on humans may be considered acceptable on animals

CARE OF ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH

Animals used in research must:Have clean housing with adequate ventilation

Have appropriate foodBe well cared for